Hydraulic variable-speed gear.



R. R. MORENO. v HYDRAULIC VARlABLE SPEED GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 1913. I

' Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INIKIENTOR fifiuz E Mayra 0,

v 1. M ii BY W nrranmsrs R. R. MORENO.

HYDRAULIC VARIABLE SPEED'GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 41 1913.

1,1 59,980. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

i 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR F4 0; /7.' MO/if/YO ATTORNEYS R. R. MORENO.

HYDRAULIC VARIABLE SPEED GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4.1913.

1,159,980. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

4o WITNESSES mm/mn ATTORNEYS R. R. MORENO. HYDRAULIC VARIABLESPEED-GEAR.

APPHCATION FILED JUNE 4, 1913.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

RAUL R. MORENO, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

HYDRAULIC VARIABLE-SPEED GEAR.

Application filed June 4, 1913. .Serial No. 771,632.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAUL B. Monnno, a lieutenant in the Argentina Navy,and a citizen of Argentina, and a resident of South Bethlehem, in thecounty of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have made certain newand useful Improvements in Hydraulic Variable-Speed Gears, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hydraulic speed gears, and itconsists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements hereindescribed and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a Y hydraulic speed gear ofrelatively high efficiency.

A further object of my invention is to provide, in a hydraulicspeedgear, a novel form of mechanism for driving the pump pistons .andalso for regulating the length of stroke ofthe pump pistons.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device in which theregulation of the stroke of the pump pistons is accomplished by the samemechanism which accomplishes the reversal of the liquid through thespeed gear thereby reducing the parts which are required to be handledin the operation of the device.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved form ofvalve-operating mechanism.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part ofthis application in which Figure 1 is a view showing the speed gearconnected on one side with a prime mover such as an electric motor andon the other with a hydraulic motor, Fig. 2 is'a section along the line22 of Fig. 3,, Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section through thedevice, Fig. 3 is a section along the line 33 of Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is asection along the line of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of arotary valve, Fig. 6 is a side view of a slidable frame and means formoving the same, Fig. 7 is a section along the line 7"( of Fig. 3, andFig. 8 is a side view of one of the screw shafts. J

In carrying out my invention I provide an Specification of LettersPatent.

either side.

Patented Nov. a, 1915.

ball bearings 8 being provided for taking up the end thrust of thecollar.

The inner end of the main drive shaft 6 is provided with a head 9,thrust bearings 10 being provided adjacent to the head. The head 9 isprovided with ears or flanges 9 between which is disposed a plate 11,the latter being pivotally connected with the ears or. flanges 9 bymeans of the pin 12 (see Figs. 3 and 7). The plate 11 extends through anopening 13 of a plate 13. This plate is provided with ball bearings 13on The plate 13 and the ball bearings 13 are carried in a slidable frameformed by the annular members 14, and 16 which are secured together bymeans of bolts or screws 17 which pass through the intermediate member15, as clearly shown in Fig.

, 3. This plate has a movement with respect One end of the plate 11 isprovided with' an extension 11 having a squared end 11?. The portion 11is provided with a hemlspherical bearing head 11 which is secured inplace within a sleeve 21 by means of a ring 22. The sleeve has rollerbearings 23 for supporting an exterior ring 24. The latter is providedwith a series of plunger rods 25 which are loosely secured to the ringby ball and socket connections such as that I shown at 26. A piston orplunger 2'2v is provided for each' plunger rod 25 and these plungers arearranged to reciprocate irr cylinders 28 formed by boring the casting inthe manner shown in Fig. 2, screw plugs 29 being provided for closingthe ends of the bores. Passages such as those shown at 30 in Figs. 2 and3 lead from the end of the cylinders. These passages are controlled by avalve in the manner hereinafter described.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that there is anannularchamber 31 which inclose the' ends of the semicircular channel isin constant communication with a pipe 32.

An annular chamber 33 is in constant-communication with a pipe 34.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the valve by means of which the fluid is directedtoward and away from thepassages 30. This valve is has an integral ring39, which'is provided 3 with'an interior bearing ring 39. The ring 39 isjoined to the extension 37 by means of radially extending walls 40 whichserve to 38. The central portion of the member 35 is provided on oneside with a pair of lugs 41 having plane opposed sides which are facedwith anti-friction be'aring strips 41'.

, Oil openings v42 are provided as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Thrustbearings 43 which are regulated by set screws 44 are provided for thevalve.

' On the oppositeside of-the plungers from the plate 11 is a similarplate- 11 having parts 11* and 11" similar tothe parts 11 and 11 Theplate 11" passes th-rough'a plate 13 similar to the plate 13 and ismounted in a slidable framehaving parts 14', 15' and Y16 similar intheir nature to the parts 14, 15 and 16 The plate 11 is provided with atongue or extension 45 arranged to enter between the lugs 41 of thebodyportion 35 of the valve.

' and the main .body portion 11 is disposed a -on the portion 11 of theplate 11.

periphery of the ring 46 is curved. It is in ring 46 which is mounted onball bearings The fact a portion of a sphere having its center at thelntersection of the; axis .of the cylindrical member 11 and the centralplane ofthe ring. It will be apparent that the ring thus forms with thecasing upon which it J bears, "a ball and socket bearing for the plate,11. I

R ferring now particularly to Fig. 7 it V will be seen that the'worm '20is mounted on a shaft 47 whose lower .end is journaled in ball bearings48 and 49 and whose u per end bears a hand'wheel 50.' The sha t 47passes through a packing gland 51 and-ball bearin s 52 are provided.for'reducing friction. I he gear 19 is arranged to engage a series ofgears 53 which are disposed symm'etrically about the central axis of thelarge gear 19, each gear 53 being carried by a screw shaft 54 like thatshown in Fig. 8.

The shaft 54 has a central collar 54- ar Between the tongue 45.,

ranged to enter a recess 55 (see Fig. 2). The shaft 54 is'provided witha right hand screw 54 and a left hand screw 54". The right hand screwextends into the frame parts 14, 15 and 16 and the left hand screw isthreaded into the similar parts of the siding frame on' the oppositeside of the plungers 2'. e., the parts 14, 15 and 16. It will beapparent that when the gear 19 is turned the gears 53 will all berotated, thereby turning the screw shafts 54. Since the latter can onlyrotate, and has no longitudinal movement, it will draw the slidableframe members on -opposite sides of the pump pistons toward and awayfrom each other depending upon the direction in .which the gear 19 ismoved.

- As will be seen from 3 the plate 13 is provided with an extension 13which is pivotally connected with the plate 11 by means of a pin 56. Theplate 13 is provided with a similar extension 13, which is pieotallyconnected with the plate 11' by means of a pivot pin 56'.

From the foregoing description of the Various parts of the device theoperation thereof may be readily understood.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a prime mover which in this instance is anelectric motor M Whose shaft is connected with theshaft ,6 of thehydraulic speed gear, which I have designated in general by S. The pipe34 (see Fig. 3) connects the hydraulic speed gear with a hydraulic motorof any suitable type. This hydraulic motor I have designated' in generalbyH. The pipe 32 forms a return pi e from the hydraulic motor H. Theelectric motor M is designed to be run at a constant speed and therevolution of the motor shaft will cause the revolution of the shaft 6and of the plate 11 which is connected to it. The end 11 of the plate 11will describe a circle whose diameter will depend upon the angularrelationof the line we which is the axial line of the cylindricalportion 11 of the plate 11 and the line b?) which represents the axis ofthe shaft 6. When .these two .lines aa and 6-?) coin cidethe cylindricalportion 11 of the plate 11 will be merely revolved on its axis and thesleeve 21'will be idly revolved within the ring 24. If, however, theaxis of the cylindrical portion 11 is inclined to the axis of the shaftas shown in Fig.3, then the sleeve 21 will be given a circular movementwhich will cause the ring 24 to operate as acrank for reciprocating theplunger rods 25 The stroke-of the plungers 27 may be varied by turningthe hand wheel 50 which, through the medium of the worm 20 and the gear19, the gears 53, screw shafts 54, and the frame members 14, 15 and 16and 14, 15 and 16' move the plates 13' and 13 toward or away from eachother. The movement of iso.

these plates toward each other when the apparatus is in the positionshown in Fig. 3 would tend to bring the lines a' aand b'?) nearer intoalinement and would therefore shorten the stroke of the pump pistons orplungers 27. A continued movement, how ever, would cause the line aa tointersect the line bb on the opposite side of the latter and wouldtherefore cause a reversal of the movement of the pump pistons. I

Referring now again to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the valve is in aposition so as to permit communication to be established between thepipe 32 and one of the passages 30 leading to one of the pump cylinders,while on the opposite side the pipe 3 is in communication with one ofthe passages 30 leading to the pump'cylinder on the'opposite side of thedevice. The movement of the pump piston 27 at the lower part of thefigure will cause the fluid, which may be oil or any suitable liquid, tobe drawn in through the pipe 32, chamber 31 and passage 30. The movementof the pump p1s ton 27 at the top of the figure will force out the fluidthroughthe passage 30 into the chamber 33 and through the pipe 34 intothe hydraulic motor H. Obviously when the movement of the pump plungersis reversed the direction of the flow of the fluid will be reversed andhence the movement of the hydraulic motor will be reversed. Similarlywhen the stroke of the pump plungers is greatest the flow will be fastand the hydraulic motor will be run at a greater speed. As the plate 11is shifted in accordance with the shifting of the plate 13 thecylindrical portion 11 will be oscillated on the ring 46. The tongue 45is diposed between the lugs 41 (see Fig. 5) so that as the extension 11is rotated the valve will also be rotated in such a manner as to connectthe pump cylinders with the pipe 32 whose pistons are travelinginwardly, i. e. in a direction to draw in the motive fluid and toconnect the other cylinders whose plungers are traveling outwardly withthe chamber 33 which is connected with the pipe 34:. Therefore the fluidwill be forced out of the pipe 3 L through the hydraulic motor and backby the pipe 32. When the position of the pump pistons is reversed in themanner described then the fluid would be forced out through the pipe 32through the hydraulic motor and back by the pipe 34. The speed of thehydraulic motor may therefore be regulated by turning the hand wheel 50and is, to a large extent, independent of the speed of the electricmotor M1 It will be noted that the plate 11 serves not only as part ofthe means for rotating the valve, but it also acts as an auxiliary guidemember for taking up end thrust which might result at the pivotalconnection of the companion member with the driving means for theplungers 27, since it is on the opposite side of the driving means fromthe drive member 11.

The device described above forms a very efficient means of operating andcontrolling the movements of heavy bodies such as turrets of battleships, but it will be obvious that the device may be used for operatingany kind of a machine such as an automobile truck or other similardevices. The provision of the anti-friction means for the variousmembers insures the highest efliciency obtainable with a device of thistype.

It .will be obvious to those skilledin.the art that various changes maybe made in the minor details of the invention within the scope of theappended claims and therefore I do not Wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction shown and described.

I claim:

1. In a hydraulic speed gear, a casing, a drive shaft rotatably carriedthereby, a plurality of cylinders, the axes of said cylinders extendingin radial directions from the axial line of said drive shaft, a plungerfor each cylinder, a member pivotally connected to said drive shaft andhaving a cylindrical extension provided with a tongue, a bearing memberfor said cylindrical extension for permitting the pivotal movement ofthe pivoted. member with respect to the driving shaft, said bearingmember having a portion arranged to be engaged by the tongue for causinga revolution of the bearing member, and means surrounding the bearingmember and movable with respect to the latter for causing thereciprocation of said plungers.

2. In a hydraulic speed gear, a gear casing, a drive shaft rotatablycarried thereby, a series of pump cylinders, the axis of each of saidcylinders being disposed in'radial relation with the axial line of saiddrive shaft, plungers for said cylinders, plunger rods for saidplungers, an auxiliary drive member pivotally connected with the end ofsaid drive shaft, means connecting one end of said auxiliary drivemember with each of said plungers for reciprocating the latter, saidauxiliary drive member having a pivotal movement with respect to saidlast named connecting means, and means for varying the pivbtal relationof the drive shaft and the auxiliary drive member, said last named meanscomprising a member movable longitudinally of said drive shaft andhaving apivotal connection with a portion of said auxiliary drivemember.

3. In a hydraulic speed gear, a gear casing, a drive shaft rotatablycarried thereby, a. series of pump-cylinders, the axis of each of saidcylinders being disposed in radial relation with the axial line of saiddrive shaft, plungers for said cylinders, plunger rods for saidplungers, an auxiliary drive member pivotally connected with the end ofsaid drive shaft, means connecting one end of said auxiliary drivemember with each of said plungers for reciprocating the latter, saidauxiliary drive member having of said drive shaft, and a plate carriedby v said slidable frame and having a pivotal connection with a portionof said auxiliary drive member.

4. In a hydraulic speed gear, a gear casing, a drive'shaft rotatablycarried thereby, a series of pump cylinders, the axis of each of saidcylinders being disposed in radial relation with the axial line of saiddrive shaft, plungers for said cylinders, plunger rods for saidplungers, an auxiliary drive member pivotally connected with the end ofsaid drive shaft, means connecting one end of said auxiliarv drivemember with each of said plungers for reciprocating the latter, saidauxiliary drive member having a pivotal movement with re spect to thelast named connecting means, means for varying the pivotal relation ofthe drive shaft and the auxiliary drive member, said last named meanscomprising a frame slidably disposed within said casing, a series ofscrew shafts carried by said casing and arranged to extend through saidframe, a gear carried by each screw shaft, means for rotating each ofsaid gears simultaneously to the same extent, a plate carried by saidslidable frameand having an opening arranged to receive said auxiliarydrive member, and an arm carried by said plate and being pivotallyconnected to a portion of said auxiliary drive member.

5. In a hydraulic speed gear, a gear casing, a drive shaft rotatablycarried thereby, a series of pump cylinders, the axis of each of saidcylinders being disposed in radial relation with the axial line of saiddrive shaft, plungers for said cylinders, plunger rods for saidplungers, an auxiliary drive member pivotally connected with the end ofsaid drive shaft, means connecting one end of said auxiliary drivemember with each of said plungers for reciprocating the latter, saidauxiliary drive member having a pivotal movement with respect to saidlast named connecting means, means for varying the pivotal relation ofthe drive shaft and the auxiliary drivemember, said last named meanscomprising a frame slidably disposed within said casing, said framehaving an extension, a gear loosely carried by saidextension, a worm foroperating said gear, a series of screw shafts carried by said frame andarranged to extend through said slidable frame, a pinion carried by eachscrew shaft and arranged to mesh with said gear, a plate carried by saidslidable frame and having an opening arranged to receive said auxiliarydrive member, said last named plate having a movement with respect tosaid slidable frame in' a direction.

at right angles to the axial line of the drive shaft, and an arm carriedby said plate and having apivotal connection with said auxiliary drivemember.

6. In a hydraulic speed gear, a casing, a main drive shaft rotatablymounted within said casing, a series of pump cylinders, the

' axial lines of said pump cylinders being disposed in radial relationwith the axial line of said drive shaft, a plunger rod for each plunger,an auxiliary drive member pivotally connected to the end of said driveshaft, means connected with one end of said "drive member for causingthe reciprocation of said pump plungers, a valve operating memberpivotally fastened at one end to the means which connects theend of theauxiliary drive member with the pump plungers and having a pivotalconnection near its opposite end with a portion of the casing, and arotary valve having a portion arranged to be engaged by a portion ofsaid valve operating member for rotating the valve.

7. In a hydraulic speed gear, a casing, a main drive shaft rotatablycarried thereby, a series of pump cylinders, the axis of each of saidcylinders being disposed in radial relation with the axial line of saidmain drive shaft, aplunger for each cylinder,

plunger rods for said plungers, a rotary valve carried by said casing, avalve operating member pivotally connected with said casing at one end,an auxiliary drive member pivotally connected with said drive shaft atone end, an intermediate member having a pivotal connection on one sideto said valve operating member and on the other side to'said auxiliarydrive member, means carried by said auxiliary drive member and arrangedto engage said intermeally connecting the latter with each of saidplungers, a sleeve disposed within the ring and arranged to rotate withrespect thereto, said sleeve having a slot, an auxiliary drive memberpivotally connected with said drive shaft and having a ball and socketconnection with said sleeve, and an extension carried by said auxiliarydrive member and arranged to enter the socket in'said sleeve for turningthe latter.

9. In a hydraulic motor, a casing, a drive shaft rotatably mounted insaid casing, a series of cylinders disposed within said casing, the axesof said cylinders being disposed in radial relation with the axial lineof said drive shaft, plungers carried by said cylinders, a plunger rodfor each plunger, a ring, means carried by the ring for pivotallyconnecting the latter with each of said plungers, a sleeve disposedwithin the ring and arranged to rotate with respect thereto, said sleevehaving a slot, an auxiliary drive member pivotally connected with saiddrive shaft and having a ball and socket connection with said sleeve, anextension carried by said auxiliary drive member and arranged to enterthe socket in said sleeve for turning the latter, and means for varyingthe pivotal relation of the auxiliary drive member with said driveshaft.

10. In a hydraulic motor, a casing, a drive I shaft rotatably mounted insaid casing, a series of cylinders disposed Within said casing, the axesof said cylinders being disposed in radial relation with the axial lineof said drive shaft, plungers carried by said cylinders, a plunger rodfor each plunger, a ring, means carried by the ring for pivotallyconnecting the latter with each of said plungers, a sleeve disposedwithin the ring and arranged to rotate with respect thereto,

said sleeve having a slot, an auxiliary drive member pivotally connectedwith said drive shaft and having a ball and socket connection with saidsleeve, an extension carried by said auxiliary drive member and arrangedto enter the socket in said sleeve for turning .the latter, means forvarying the pivotal relation of the auxiliary drive member with saiddrive shaft, a valve operating member having a ball and socketconnection wlth said sleeve and being provided with an extensionarranged to enter the slot in said sleeve, said valve operating memberhavlng a ball and socket connection with said casing, a rotary valvecarried by said casing,

and an extension carried by said valve operating member and arranged toengage said valve for rotating the latter.

11. In a hydraulic speed gear, a casing, a drive shaft rotatably carriedby said cas'- ing, a series of pump cylinders, the axis of said pumpcylinders being disposed on radial lines withrespect to the axial lineof said driveshaft, plungers for said cylinders,

plunger rodsfor said plungers, an auxiliary drive member pivotallyconnected to said drive shaft, a gulde member-similar to said auxiliarydrive member ivotally connected at one end to a portion 0 the frame, andan 4 intermediate member pivotally connected and with one end of saidguide member for reciprocating said lunger rods.

12. In a hydrau ic speed gear, a casing, adrive-shaft rotatably carriedby said casing, a series of pump cylinders, the axis of saidpumpcylinders being disposed on radial lines with respect to the axial lineof said drive shaft, plungers for said cylinders, plunger rods for saidplungers, an auxiliary drive member pivotally connected to said driveshaft, a guide member similar to said auxiliary drive member pivotallyconnected at one end to a portion of the frame, and an intermediatemember pivotally connected with one end of said auxiliary drive memberand with one end of said guide member for reciprocating said plungerrods, the center of the pivotal connection of the auxiliary drive memberwith said drive shaft and the center of the pivotal connection of saidguide member with said casing lying in the axial line of the driveshaft.

13. In a hydraulic speed gear, a casing, a drive shaft rotatably carriedby said casing, a series of pump cylinders, the axis of said pumpcylinders being disposed on radial lines with'respeot to the axial lineof said drive shaft, plungers for'said cylinders, plunger rods for saidplungers, an auxiliary drive member pivotally connected to said driveshaft, a guide member similar to said auxiliary drive member pivotallyconnected at one end to a portion of the frame, an intermediate memberpivotally connected with one end of said auxiliary drive member andwithone end of said guide member for reciprocating said plunger rods, thecenter of member with said intermediate member to-, .ward and away fromthe axial line of said the plungers. W

14. In a hydraulic speed gear, a casing,

drive shaft, thereby varying the stroke of a drive shaft rotatablycarried by said. c'asing, a series of pump cylinders, the axisofsaidpump cylinders being disposed on radial lines with respect to theaxial line of said drive shaft, plungers for said cylinders, plungerrods for said plungers, an auxiliary drive member pivotally. connectedto said drive shaft, a guide member similar-to said auxiliary drivemember pivotally connected at one endv to a portion of the frame, an

intermediate -member pivotally connectedwith one end of said auxiliarydrive member and With one end of said guide member for reciprocatingsald plunger rods, the center of the pivotalconnection of the auxiliarydrive member withsaid drive shaft and the center of the pivotalconnection of said guide member with said casing lying in the axiallineof the drive shaft, and means for shifting 'the centers of thepivotal connections of said auxiliary drive member. and

said guide member with said intermediate member from one side of theaxial line of the drive shaft to the other side, thereby 10 reversingthe direction of movement of the plungers.

' RAUL R. MORENO.

Witnesses:

LUIs F. ORLANDINI, GEORGE GAINES.

